MARYLAND
WTOP
By Kate Ryan | @kryanwtop.com
January 7, 2015
WASHINGTON — An Episcopal bishop called a colleague last month to tell him she thought she had hit a cyclist and was “in shock.”
In a statement released Tuesday, the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland outlined the events after 58-year-old Bishop Heather Elizabeth Cook reportedly hit a cyclist on Dec. 27. Cyclist Tom Palermo, 41, of Baltimore, was killed.
According to the diocese’s statement, at 2:59 p.m. Bishop Cook called the Rev. Scott Slater. She told him she thought she hit a cyclist and “was in shock.” Slater arrived at the scene and found her with police in a patrol car.
At 5:27 p.m., Slater got a call from the Baltimore City Police, who said he could pick up Cook.
Slater took the bishop to her apartment, made sure a friend would stay with her, prayed with her, then left.
Tuesday’s statement from the church explains that a disciplinary inquiry, referred to as a Title IV within the church, is underway. In the meantime, Cook remains on leave with pay and benefits.
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